Brilliant lawyer with an incisive intellect, ready wit, and a combative spirit, Pandit Motilal Nehru not only distinguished himself as a lawyer but also as a member of the Central Legislative Assembly. He presided over the Congress session in Amritsar in 1919 and in Calcutta in 1928. Along with C.R. Das he founded the Swaraj party in 1923. When the Simon Commission was appointed in 1927, Motilal Nehru was asked to draw up a draft constitution for free India.
The constitution, drawn up by him, assumed that India would remain a Dominion of the British Empire (Dominion Status). The radical wing of the Congress, which included his own son, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subash Chandra Bose, reacted violently against the proposal to keep India a Dominion. A split in the Congress was averted by the timely intervention of Gandhiji. Motilal was not initially very much enthusiastic about the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. He had a rational, robust, secular and fearless outlook on life. He distinguished himself as a parliamentarian and organiser. He was one of the most notable and attractive figures of Indian nationalism in the Gandhian Era.

Gandhiji was an idealist where as Motilal was pragmatic in his approach. This was the prime reason for the difference between the two great personalities. There was also ideological difference between the father and son. Motilal was somewhat old guard of the Indian National Congress where as Jawahar Lal Nehru has leaning towards socialism. Moti Lal Nehru wants dominian status for India where as Jawahar lal vied for complete independence for India. He was a true patriot. For the sake of country he left his lucrative practice at bar. He also dissuaded Jawahar Lal Nehru to follow his path to bar if that is standing between him and his service to the country.